Kim Chaerin's Hidden Secret #2: "Wake Up, Little One~"
Warm sunlight filtered through the hazy window, casting a gentle glow. Though shadows played across Mom's face as she stood with the light behind her, her voice brimmed with affection.
"Aaah~~~! Mom keeps calling me little one, that's why I'm not growing taller!"
"Aww, poor baby, so eat a big breakfast and head to school~"
"Ah... just a bit more... ten minutes! Just ten more minutes!!!"
"If you don't get up soon, Mom's heading to work first? Then our little one has to take the bus to school?"
"Ah... geez... I'm not little anymoreee!!!"
She was whining, but she wasn't really upset. Kim Chaerin, a second-year middle schooler. She hadn't caught that 'disease' all her friends had, and raised with overflowing maternal love, she had no rough edges. Sweet-tempered, popular with friends, always top of the class—teachers adored her, the classic model student. Pretty face too, getting confessions once or twice a month like clockwork, an up-and-coming social butterfly.
Rubbing her eyes, Kim Chaerin sat up, and Mom pulled her into a hug. Squeezed so tight it was hard to breathe, but nestling into Mom's soft bosom was always pure bliss.
"Oh my~ our girl looks a tiny bit taller than yesterday?"
"Sheesh... you just called me little one!"
Grumbling, but she felt a little pleased as Mom measured her height with her hand. Honestly, still in her growth spurt years—no need to mope about being short now.
Heading to the bathroom, a bright smile lit Kim Chaerin's face. Staring in the mirror, she even felt like she looked a bit more mature, womanly.
......?!
But it wasn't an illusion. The reflection was definitely her. Not the middle school girl from before bed last night, but like her self from 10 or 20 years in the future.
Rub eyes, look again. Bow head, look up. Turn this way, that way.
"U... uwaaaaaah!!!"
Screaming in terror at her mirrored self, the bathroom door flew open as Mom rushed in.
"My girl, what's wrong? Why?! Because I teased you calling you little one?!"
"N-no... Mom... my face... my faaaace...!!!"
Tears like chicken poop streamed down Kim Chaerin's face as Mom cupped it gently in both hands, lifting it up. Even the warmth of Mom's palms couldn't clear her dazed mind.
"Hmm... no pimples? What's wrong with your face? Huh? Chaerin? Why cry with such a pretty face."
Face twisted in ugly sobs, but to Mom, her worldly beautiful daughter— she couldn't fathom why.
"Now that our girl's all grown up, no more crying like this, okay?"
"No! Nooooo!!! My face is weird right nowwww!!!"
"Huh...? Doesn't look weird at all? Kinda ugly from all the crying, though."
"Aaa!! No nooo!!!"
Did Mom not see the change? Or was she still half-asleep, hallucinating? Kim Chaerin cautiously turned to the mirror again. Instead of her crying face, a beaming smile stared back— she foamed at the mouth and fainted dead away.
"What is thiiiis......"
-"Time to accept it, child. You are blessed by the earth."
"A g-ghost... in my body..."
-"Oh dear! How hurtful. A ghost? Ever seen a ghost this pretty?"
"What... what happens to me nooow..."
After glimpsing something bizarre in the mirror, Kim Chaerin's mind crumbled. Loaded into an ambulance to the hospital, full body scan— perfectly healthy.
"Hmm... maybe she awakened?"
"A-awakening? My daughter awakened?!"
"Rare case, but... take a look at this?"
Kim Chaerin's mom, Jin Soyu, jumped at the thin booklet the doctor handed over.
Spirit Affinity Awakener... unfamiliar term.
"Very rare, but..."
"W-what's a spirit even?!"
"Hmm... simply put, in Korean terms..."
The doctor smacked his lips, reluctant to speak. Growing impatient, Jin Soyu snapped.
"W-what the hell is it!!!"
"Hmm... in our culture, like shaman descent..."
"Sh-shaman...? You mean like a shaman?!"
"Hmm... similar, but a bit different..."
"S-similar?!"
"Hmm..."
"Hmm one more time and I'll kill you!"
Jin Soyu's glare turned murderous. The doctor flinched.
"Similar to shaman descent, but different. First off, congratulations."
"Wh-what?! My daughter's becoming a shaman and you congratulate me?!... You..."
"Read the pamphlet properly?"
The doctor tapped the pamphlet with his index finger. Fury boiling, Jin Soyu calmed herself and read carefully.
Spirits. Fairy-like beings living invisibly in nature; rare humans could commune with them. Doctor said "shaman descent," evoking ghosts and souls— but spirits were wholly different. If he'd said "fairy" or "angel" first, no freakout. Now she got it.
In olden days, she'd think exorcism rite to avoid descent. But post-Gate era, world changed. Palm winds, finger flames for cigs— commonplace. Awakening to see spirits? Surprising, but fitting for her world's prettiest girl and cute fairy.
"So what now?"
"Wait a moment— Awakener Association's sending someone. I called ahead."
"...Huh? Awakener Association?"
"Government agency... anyway, congrats. If she truly sees spirits, national protection and perks await."
The doctor smiled brighter than usual, but Jin Soyu felt dazed. She just wanted her daughter happy. Raised with endless love to forget absent Dad. Awakening? Novel feeling. Humans could awaken anytime, low odds—no expectations. Botched awakenings led to scorn; she'd hoped daughter stayed normal. But "special case"? Spark of hope. Special awakener? Golden path ahead? A world gilded in gold, daughter thriving— ultimate joy as mom.
Isn't this too much...? If you're sucking up tax money, do your damn job!
'When did they say government troops were deploying!'
It's been over 12 hours since crazy Kim Chaerin charged my farm and pissed herself.
Word was the entrance was already locked down. Mention Saintess and Kim Chaerin here? Secret Blue House agents would swarm before troops. But stirring drama? Nah. No one'd believe me anyway— just agro, reviews flooded with curses.
"These bastards... for real...!"
Shitposts piling up— pissed me off.
"Hehehehe..."
Kim Chaerin grinning like an idiot at her phone hurt my heart weirdly, and
"What're they sayingggg!!!"
"Check yours~?"
Choi Eunji's nonstop whining made my head throb. Sighing, I sat by ever-concerning Kim Chaerin.
"H-hiiik?!"
Startled squeak all wrong, but with her head issues, I played it cool.
"Uuu... you're next to me... what now... what? B-but... too fast... huuu... embaww... embawassing...!"
Looked in real pain. Still, I gazed casually. Her eyes held the same prettiness from memory; head messed up or not, beauty intact.
"Who you talking to?"
"Y-yes... ah... snif... i-it's... a spiwit!"
Out-of-nowhere, slight shock.
"......Spirit?"
"Uuuu... can I tell? Nooo... still embawassing... sudden hand-hold weirddd—"
Chatting with me, staring elsewhere mumbling oddities— actions normal, not scary. Shaking head wildly, solo-talking awhile, then locked eyes.
"It's... a secret tho..."
"Secret...?"
"Yeah, never tell anyone! Got it?... Shh!"
Index to lips— cutest thing ever. Heart skipped; calmed, nodded, mirrored her finger-to-lips.
"Known as spirit, but mine's..."
"Together? What's with you, Chaerin?"
Not a ghost, right?
"Elf..."
"......Elf?!"
"Yesss... hehehe... elf... ancient elf sharing my body... hehe! What! You called me ancient! Hmph! Whatcha say~? La la la— can't hear? H-hey... don't badmouth Mom!!!"
Kim Chaerin was... very. Very much. Hurting bad...
My heart ached too.
<<Happy New Year! Lots of fortune!>>